A gathering of approximately 20 attended The Walter Raleigh on Tuesday September 1st when the Youghal & District Community Alerts resumed its monthly meetings following the August recess. Committee members present were Chairman Mossie Lynch, Treasurer Michael Beecher, Secretary Pa Forrest, Assist Secretary Kay Curtin and Garda Sergeants John Sharkey (PR) and Paul Kennedy.   By Christy Parker

Stastistics:

Recapping the previous six weeks, Sergeant Sharkey said criminal and disorderly activity had, fortunately, been relaively low in the region. The sergeant’s subsequent report summarised garda investigations in the jurisdiction over the past six weeks as follows: Thefts: 11; Fraud: 7; Drugs: 2; Public Order Offences: 11; Drivers Under The Influence: 8; Criminal damage: 17; Burglary: 3; Assaults: 3.
The gardai said that the majority of investigations been successful, with some outstanding incidents likely to be brought to successful conslusions in the coming weeks.

Phone & Tell:

Sergeant Sharkey reiterated that members of the public should never hesitate to alert gardai with regard to  witnessing suspicious behaviour or holding concerns. In fact, he proceeded, on very quiet nights the gardai would probably welcome the diversion!

Mr. Beecher remarked on the incidences of underage drinking and mentioned specific areas of town where the problem appeared to particularly manifest. Sergeant Sharkey said it would be impractical to mount surveillance programmes in these or other areas but repeated the importance of reporting illegal behaviour. “We will respond to every call and while sometimes culprits may be gone, on the balance of probabalities we will catch them a lot of the time,” he assured.

Community Be Alert:

Chairman Mossy Lynch told the gathering that “community alert is not just about all present here, but should be about the town as a whole.” He urged that “everyone should alert within their community.” Mr. Lynch floated the idea of one or two people in different areas being the focal point of community alertness on their own and others’ behalfs. However, it was deemed that it might overburden such individuals, not to mention compromise their lives generally and it was agreed that the community alert movement is progressing satisfactorily as it is. It was also observed that resident’s networks have a vital role to play in community protection.

Halloween

Responding to a query from the floor, Sergeant Sharkey said there would be “significant resources” deployed to meet the now depressingly anticipated social disruptions attached ot Halloween night. It was put to the gardai that the town was insufficiently policed last Halloween when particularly violent and disruptive incidents evolved. Ironically, that night sparked increased interest in the Community Alert project and strengthened the resolve of the townspeople against social disruption.

General community policing

The gardai have no plans to allocate individual gardai to particular areas, Sergeant Sharkey said. He said the system, which operates in some towns, including Cobh, has inherent flaws in that should a garda be absent, for example, incidents on his ‘patch’ might suffer poor response. Also a garda in one area might carry a far greater workload then others, he explained. The sergeant said that as a rule the garda that responed to a call would deal with the matter thereafter.

Alarms, CCTV, invitations, funds, bus and schools

The meeting heard that recession-rleated funding shortage is delaying the processing of house alarm application forms. It had been mooted earlier in the year that the funding which was frozen pending a procedure reassesment, woud be resumed from September 1st. However, further news had as yet not been forthcoming. The forms remain in the garda station, with further applications welcomed.

The sergeant said a meeting with the relevant Rapid co-ordinator regarding the application for CCTV funding for the town was imminent. He said it took a lot of research and time to acquire an accurate pre-tender estimate. He said the application could now proceed but that funding again was a likely impediment.

Treasurer Michael Beecher confirmed that letters had been issued to the council and the Chamber of Commerce formally inviting them each to appoint a representative to attend Community Alert meetings. It was noted that in particular Mayor Sandra McLellan, Cllr Michelle Hennesssy and Cllr Beecher were regular particpants anyway.

Mr. Beecher said the Community Alert group had raised almost €800 through the July church gate collections. Following some suggestions and a short discussion on how best to disperse the money, it was agreed that it would best be spent on a “community–based” project rather than administered to benefit individuals, with an information session incorporated. Further discussion will ensue.

Mr. Beecher referred to a pilot community bus scheme being managed by the Youghal Transport Group. The group, of which he is treasurer, intends to purchase a bus designed specifically with elderly and disabled in mind. South & East Cork Area Development (SECAD) had provided €4,500 funding. He said it was necessary to be a group committee member to avail of the service and new members are now being sought. Meanwhile the project (though not the bus hopefully) was about to get “off the ground,” and would soon go to tender.

Sergeant Sharkey agreed with a view from the floor that a Community Alert representative/s should endeavour to visit Pobalscoil na Trionoide, particlarly perhaps transition year. He said a visit need not specifically regard Community Alert business but that it could be included within it.